Whether his albums appeared under the logo of the forward-looking New Jazz, the contemplative Moodsville, or the parent label, Yusef Lateef never failed to offer a singular blend of jazz verities and cross-cultural initiatives in his years as a Prestige artist. Eastern Sounds, originally presented as a Moodsville disc, satisfied its initial mandate with tender readings of two movie themes and a luxurious “Don’t Blame Me,” while also including hard-swinging tenor sax (“Snafu”), soulful oboe (“Blues for the Orient”), and such iconoclastic colors as the sound of the Chinese globular flute and the Indian rabat (both heard on “The Plum Blossom”). A stellar working band, featuring fellow Detroiter Barry Harris on piano, helps the multi-instrumental pioneer Lateef realize his one-world vision of a music that knows neither stylistic boundaries nor expressive limitations.

“Tasty as is the back-up band and are the outstanding acoustic arrangements, Ms. Fernandez steals the show with a voice that is as unlikely as her cover photo would have you thinking “funky black chick”. She’s no poseur though. If you have any such notions start with side 3’s opener, a cover of Bill Withers’ ‘Use Me,’ which is from where the album gets it title.” — Music = 10/11; Sound = 11/11 — Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com.

Singapore-based vocalist Vanessa Fernandez, 31, has performed hip-hop (Urban Xchange/Parking Lot Pimp) and been a DJ “Vandetta,” or “Miss Vandetta” on Mediacorp Radio’s 987FM. Groove Note and ORG reissue producer Ying Tan decided that Fernandez deserved the audiophile recording treatment and so brought her to Ocean Way Recording in Los Angeles in mid-January 2014 to record this album to analog tape in five sessions.

The album of audiophile-quality covers of soul and R&B classics from the ’70s and ’80s was done in an “unplugged” style with acoustic instruments and arrangements used on all of the tracks. Vocals are tremendously dynamic (no compression or limiting used), with superb presence and detail for all other instruments including the drum set.

The album introduces and throws the spotlight on the fantastic voice of the Singaporean vocalist Fernandez. The song selection includes tunes by Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Earth Wind & Fire, Bill Withers, Al Green and others. Now available for Digital Download!

This is a great group of top LA musicians backing superlative performances by a great new singer!!!

Tracklist:
01 – Just Wanna Be With You
02 – Be Thankful For What You Got aka Diamond In The Back
03 – Distant Lover
04 – Hard Times
05 – That Loving Feeling
06 – Simply Beautiful
07 – Use Me
08 – I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know
09 – Cool Cat
10 – Here But I’m Gone
11 – Be Thankful For What You Got aka Diamond In The Back (alt. take)

The Supremes’ second release Where Did Our Love Go includes several hit singles, notably the title track, the group’s first number one song. In fact the album made history for being the first to contain three number one hits and was also the most successful album by an all-female group to that point, peaking at number two. The title track has been Included on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

Animalization was released in the US in the summer of 1966 and hit the top 20, driven by three singles. The album introduced new Animals drummer Barry Jenkins, who shares drum credits with his predecessor, departing founding member John Steel. Now remastered using transfers from the original first generation mono tapes, this edition includes bonus stereo versions of three songs.

Celebrate of the legendary guitarist Steve Vai’s landmark solo breakthrough – stunning Passion and Warfare – 25th Anniversary Edition. Recorded entirely in Vai’s Mothership home studio, Passion and Warfare represents Steve Vai as a melodic, heavy guitarist with a gift for remarkable composition and a deep desire to convey the mystical and the metaphysical through his every last note. The result was nothing short of stellar. The album was championed by critics: Guitar Player and Guitar World named it the best album of 1990, and both magazines showered him with individual awards; Guitar Player awarded Vai the titles of Best Rock Guitarist for the fi fth year in a row and Best Overall Guitarist for the third year in a row, while Guitar World named him Best Rock Guitarist and deemed “For the Love of God” the year’s best guitar solo. For this anniversary release, the album was newly remastered from the original analog tapes, and includes four newly discovered recordings from the album sessions!

Having collaborated in the past, jazz virtuosos Steve Kuhn, Joey Baron and Steve Swallow team up once again for the astounding jazz release, Wisteria. The trio exposes the emotional core of some familiar Kuhn classics including “Adagio,” “Morning Dew” and “Pastorale.” Complementing the yearning balladry is the exciting hard bop-track “A Likely Story” and the gospel-inspired “Permanent Wave.” This historic trio sails effortlessly creating a compelling set full of divine synergy.

Smokey Robinson’s most successful post-Miracles solo album, Being With You has sold over 900,000 copies and peaked at number 10 in the US, propelled by the million-selling hit single title track. Seeking a more contemporary, modern sound, Robinson sought out the hot producer of the day, George Tobin (Tiffany, Kim Carnes) to work his magic behind the board.